Truman Warned of Possible Disorders in Palestine, Jewish Groups Appeal to Him

June 16, 1946

New York (Jun. 14)

Warning of the imminent danger of grave disorders in Palestine, Joseph M. Proskaner and Jacob Blaustein, president and executive committee chairman, respectively, of the American Jewish Committee, today wired President Truman urging that he use his “influence with the British Government for the purpose of taking immediate action to effect the prompt entry of displaced Jews into Palestine.”

Declaring that the refusal of British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin to abide by the unanimous recommendation of the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry for the admission of 100,000 Jews into Palestine “would result in the sacrifice of the lives of displaced Jews in Europe.” the message pointed out that Bevin’s statement and the reported arrival in the Near East of the Arab Mufti Haj Amin El Husseini “tend to increase the peril of civil war in Palestine.”

The American Jewish Conference, in a telegram to President Truman, signed by Henry Monsky and Louis Lipsky, said that Bevin’s statement was an “astounding reflection” on Truman’s efforts on behalf of Europe’s stricken Jews and has the effect of humiliating the American Government and its Chief Executive.

Stating that unless Britain carries out its trust obligation under the Palestine Mandate, “it should relinquish that trust,” the Conference expressed the hope that President Truman would “resolutely overcome” the obstacles placed in the path of his original request for the transfer of 100,000 displaced Jews to Palestine.